Thanksgiving is a great time to ask what we have to be thankful
for. For many of us, the list is long. Thanking God for all his or her
blessings should take time, and it’s something most people would probably say
they don’t do enough. It’s certainly something I don’t do enough.
It’s my belief that the most important thing God gave us was the
ability to make our own decisions. To be able to use that on what’s so
important that you feel blessed. Blessed enough to be thankful.
For example – I have six grandchildren. Because of that, I truly
feel blessed. I don’t, however, believe it was divine intervention. I think God
gave some people the opportunity to reproduce. I just don’t believe the Lord
decided who could or would. If that were the case, why would some have 12 children,
while others struggle to even have one?
To me, the answer is that God doesn’t decide. There isn’t some
decision from above that rewards or punishes people. There are just decisions
we make and the science that goes with it.
Some are going to say that means I don’t believe in God. My
answer is that I
do
. So much so that I want to thank God for allowing me
to decide to have children. Allowing me to make that choice.
So, this Thanksgiving when I lower my head in prayer, it will be
for my family.
I can only hope that if you choose to pray, it’s for what you’re
thankful for. Not what you’re told to be.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Good riding with you.
(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelKFGO.)
